New charge after 2-year-old dies

RUIDOSO — New Mexico State Police agents Monday amended the charges against Ricardo A. Soto, 33, of Ruidoso Downs, to child abuse resulting in death.

About 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Soto’s 2-year-old son died at the hospital from suspected abuse.

The child sustained severe head trauma while in the custody of Soto on Thursday, and had been in critical care. Soto remains in the El Paso County Detention Center and will be extradited to New Mexico, according to a release from the agency.

Soto fled the area after the child’s condition was known and before police could interview him. State Police obtained a warrant for his arrest and he was apprehended about 1:30 a.m. Saturday by U.S. Customs officials in El Paso as he attempted re-entry from Mexico into the United States.